Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AF&RS) are calling on residents, businesses, and stakeholders to share their views on progress towards its Service Plan 2024-2028 as well as how much residents would be prepared to pay for their fire and rescue services.
The feedback will help the service assess its performance against its plan, manage risks effectively, ensure the service provides excellent value for money, and making sure the service is a great place to work.
A press statement from the service said: “The Service Plan outlines a commitment to improving community safety through fire prevention, risk reduction, and emergency response. It includes initiatives to address emerging risks and looks at strategies to reduce the likelihood of incidents before they happen.”
Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s chief fire officer Simon Shilton added: “As a service, our main aim is to make our communities safer and we do that by preventing fires through education, protecting you in your homes and your places of work, and by responding to fires.
“We are now one year into our four-year plan and what you think about our progress matters to us and that’s why it’s important that you take part in this survey, to make your voice heard.
“As with many public sector organisations, we are facing some real financial constraints, and we must be honest about the challenges we face in maintaining our level of service. However, the safety of our communities remains our top priority, and we are committed to working with local people, partners, and staff to ensure that we make the best use of every pound we receive.”
The survey will allow residents to have a say in how the services are shaped over the next four years. You can provide feedback on various aspects of the plan including how money is spent, including how it allocates resources, emergency response strategies, and how it engages with the community.
Chair of Avon Fire Authority, Ben Nutland added: “For Avon Fire & Rescue Service, community input is vital in shaping how it works as an emergency service in the future. We urge anyone with thoughts on how to improve services or manage the financial challenges ahead to share their opinions.
“The Authority’s role is to address the challenges facing the Service, with the resources available, ensuring an effective and efficient service that meets the expectations of local people and businesses.
“We can only do that by listening to and hearing from you, and I would encourage everyone to find out more about the Service’s priorities for tackling risk across the area and keeping you safer by sharing your views in this survey.”
People are encouraged to share their views by completing the short online survey. The survey will close on February 7. If you need the survey in another format, call 07977 467634 or email consultation@avonfire.gov.uk.